Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-07-19
DAILY HERALD.
JENKINS INDISCRETION.
Or How the killing of n Mexican
Caused an InsurrectiOn I'm this
City im $50.

11uBCu Hhs -.
City Ina $50.
We CLEAN from Mr.. Hubert Howe
Bancroft's Popular Tribunals, vol. L,
just published, an account OF a very
exciting event which transpired at
Los Angeles in 1856. The excitement
arose from the rash shooting of An
tonic Ruiz, on the 10Th of July, by a
deputy constable named jenkins, who
met with some opposition in the SER
vice of writ of execution for the sale
of Ruiz property. Jenkins surren-
dered himself and was admitted to
bail. Next day Ruiz died, and the
Spanish population was indignant
that jenkins, whom they regarded
,ss murderer-fo for Ruiz was
a quiet, well-behaved man, and
hal not given the officer sufficient
provocation to justify him in the kill
ing--should be at large. On applica-
ton by the District Attorney to Judge
Hayes, Jenkins was incarcerated, but
the people had by this time become SO
excited that they threatened the jan.
Ruiz's funeral was the largest that had
ever taken place in Los Angeles. AT
ter the services were concluded the
immense crowd near the grave was
addressed by Frenchman and others
who threatened vengeance on the
Americans. Their threats were of
such Il character that the citizens
were notified and active preparations
made for self defense. The following
extract from an affidavit, subsequent
ly made by Judge VIM. q. Snyder,
shows clearly what apprehensions
were entertained: "About O'Clock
on Tuesday, July %, Californian
came to my residence in the City OF
Los Angeles and told me he had just
learned that on Tuesday night after s
O'Clock an attack might be expected
i'm the city by the Sonorians, in con-
nection with the French and some
Dutch; that they were about 600
strong, and that if | wished to save
nv life | had better take my horse
and conceal myself on some rancho
that they had just attempted to take
his, but desisted when he told them it
was very tired, being just from ran
cho. This Californian said that the
object of the attack was to destraoy all
the Americans; he said nothing about
the attack on the jail. He told me
that he had made this communication
because he felt toward me like
u brother. For four or five nights ]
could hear the Mexicans riding about
the streets singing their gfrdnes, the
burden of which was war, repeating
the word americana; could frequently
also hear the word rengdnza.
Immediately upon receiving the
above information from the Califor-
nian Judge Dryden called ON Judge
Hayes, and together they visited a
committee representing the assem-
blage of the cemetery. The judges,
accompanied by this committee. went
to the jail, which they found sur
rounded by Mexicans. The sheriff S
and the judges promises quieted the
people, and they dispersed. On the
following morning Jenkins was brought
before Judge Hayes for preliminary
examination. In writing Of !, this
affair the judge says: Thirty
men armed with muskets in
sisted upon guarding the courthouse.
Thus | had to sit on this occasion with
soldiers on the outside and this same
committee occupying the jury-box, to
see, as | understood, that the judge did
Justice. All other persons were ex-
cluded. The judge and prisoner, his
attorney and witnesses, were one fea-
fure of the picture; soldiers on the
left, a committee, to all intents and
purposes, on the right"
That evening after the formalities
were concluded, Judges Hayes and
Dryden attempted to investigate mat
tiers, visiting Mexicans for this pur-
pose, but no information could be OBJ
tanned. They began to think the
alarm was without foundation, when
the bright moonlight suddenly dis
covered the rendezvous. on tine hill,
of a large force. Only waiting long
enough to secure for his family place
of safety, where already many
families had congregated, Judge
Hayes joined the citizens who had
armed and organized. All through
the night the citizens were on the
alert; horsemen were galloping up
and down the streets, carrying mes
sages back and forth from one section
Of the town to another. They would
not be aggressors but were prepared
TO be merciless in their retribution il
once attacked. About midnight,
while Marshal Getman with com
pany of footmen was riding near the
hill, where some two or three hun
dred of the belligerents were assem-
bled, he was attacked and obliged to
retreat. Afterward four Mexicans
shot at him, and he fell then they
rode by, firing at him as he lay upon
the ground. The attack having been
made, the military were ordered to the
plaza but, inefticiently organized, they
were some time in reaching the spot.
The insurgents in the mean time dis
banded; then patriotic ardor and
their vindictive purposes seemed to
have been sunk into oblivion from ex-
cessive drink, and there was no fur
fher demonstration made that night
The citizens on the following day re-
reiyed re-enforcementsf from FL Monte
and strong military power was Sc
cured. There was "a feverish excite
ment for some days, but with the mill
itary ready for action if needed, the
fears of the people at last subsidized.
The examination of Jenkins by
Judge Hayes resulted in his being sent
to the grand jury for trial, with bail
fixed ut three thousand dollars. At
his final trial he was exonorated
from blame and released.